Conditionals

I decided to write about conditional sentences. It should help me to memorize how to properly build the conditional sentences. Conditional sentence is built from “if” (condition) and “main” (result) clauses. There are three main types of conditional sentences.

Zero Conditional

Zero Conditional is used when we talk about general facts. Both parts of the conditional clause use “Present Simple” time.

If you finish the university, you become smarter.
If you study math, your logic skills become better.
You get a present if you write to Santa.

One Conditional

The first type of First Conditional is used when we talk about possible events that may possibly happen. “if” clause uses “Present Simple” time, and “main” clause uses “Future Indefinite” time.

If I have enough time, I will study math.
If I have a working visa, I will start to work in Germany.
I will walk around the lake if I write a post in my blog.

b. The second type of First Conditional is used when we talk about events that unlikely happen. “if” clause uses “should + infinitive” and “main” clause uses “Future Indefinite” time.

If I should have enough time, I will study category theory.
If I shouldn’t have a working visa, I will finish the “How to prove it” book till July.
I will start to work on “Verified Functional Programming in Agda” if I should finish the “How to prove it” book.

Two Conditional

Second Conditional is used when we talk about an unreal event in the present time. “if” clause uses “Past Simple” time and “main” clause uses “would + infinitive”.

If I had enough time, I would study Japanese.
If I could surf, I would fly to Australia.
I would become rich if I won a lottery.

Three Conditional

Third Conditional is used when we talk about an absolutely unreal event in the past. “if” clause uses “Past Perfect Subjunctive” and “main” clause uses “would + Perfect infinitive”.

If I had had enough time, I would have studied math last year.
If I had written a post in my blog, I would have walked around the lake yesterday.
I would have bought the island in the Pacific Ocean last year if I had won the national lottery.

Mixed Conditionals

“if” clause is in the past and “main” clause is in the present or future.

If you had run a marathon last year, you would feel better now.
If I had written a post in my blog, I would be walking around the lake now.
I would be rich now if I had won a lottery yesterday.

b. “if” clause doesn’t have a specific time and “main” clause is in the past.

If she wasn’t so smart, she would not have passed her exam.
If I wasn’t so brave, I wouldn’t have jumped with a parachute.
She would have passed her exam if she hadn’t been so stupid.